Heel



Sept. 22, 1925. 14554580.

L./KAPLAN HEEL, Filed Sept": 19, 1923 -FIG. 1..

\ 3mm: LOLJKS KAPLAN,

Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES LOUIS KAILAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HEEL.

Application filed September 19, 1923. Serial No- 663,595.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs KAPLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to resilient or cushion heels made of rubber or other yieldable material, and aims to provide such a heel having vacuum cups in the tread surface thereof with novel means on such surface surrounding said cups to prevent slipping and to modify the benefits obtained by the vacuum cups.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a face view of the improved heel.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The heel 7, which is composed of rubber or other similar material, has the nail holes 8 therein, and the vacuum cups 9 at the lower or outer ends of said holes.

In carrying out the invention, the tread surface of the heel is formed around each vacuum cup or recess 9 with concentric annular series of outstanding ribs 10 and 11, and the ends of the ribs of each series are spaced apart, with the ribs of the inner and outer series in staggered arrangement, with their end portions in overlapping relation although spaced apart. The inner ribs 10 have outwardly extending portions 12 be tween their ends extending between the ends of the outer ribs 11, and the outer ribs are similarly provided with portions 13 between their ends extending inwardly between the ends of the inner ribs 10. The ribs are thus of Tshape, with the inner and outer ribs in reversed positions- The portions 12 and 13 serve to brace the ribs 10 and 11 against being bent excessively toward or away from the vacuum cups, as well as as- I sisting in preventing the heel from sliding on a slippery surface.

When the heel is new, the ribs will provide effective means to grip slippery surfaces, to prevent skidding, and the ribs also provide zig-zag air passages for the flow of air into and out of the vacuum cups, so as to prevent the heel from sticking on smooth surfaces while the heel is new. As the ribs wear down, the vacuum cups become more effective in causing the heel to adhere to slippery surfaces, but such adhesion is then beneficial whereas it is somewhat objectionable when the heel is new and before it is worn or run-down. The ribs being in overlapping or staggered arrangement will somewhat impede the flow of air between the ribs into and out of the vacuum cups, especially when water and dirt get between the ribs, and the benefit of the vacuum cups is thus obtained in accordance with the conditions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A heel of yieldable material having a plurality of vacuum cups in its tread surface and two concentric annular series of outstanding T-shaped ribs surrounding each of said cups, the ribs of each two series being in staggered arrangement and alter nate reversed positions with portions of the ribs of the two series in overlapping arrangement and the other portions extending toward and away from the corresponding vacuum cup between the firstnamed pon tions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

LOUIS KAPLANL. 

